After a long while, she waved her hand.
"Clear the scene and tighten security."
"This matter is not to be shared with anyone."
"Yes!"
The Inspection Team members took their orders and left.
Cai Yuer stood at the edge of the crater, watching for a while longer before finally turning to leave.
In a shadowy spot in the distance...
Wang Zhi watched everything in silence.
He had witnessed Cai Yuer arrive, investigate, and leave.
From beginning to end, the Shrek Outer Court Dean had never noticed his presence.
The corner of Wang Zhi's mouth lifted slightly.
He turned, melted into the shadows, and disappeared into the night.
The next day, all of Shrek City sprang into action.
The members of the Shrek Inspection Team, made up of Shrek Inner Court Students, turned out in full force to investigate and search throughout Shrek City.
In groups of three, they carried various Probing Soul Tools and combed every street and corner, leaving no suspicious spot unchecked.
A tense atmosphere hung in the air.
At the same time, Cai Yuer and Zhuo Shi arrived at the Shrek Checkpoint to investigate in person.
Cai Yuer stood at the checkpoint entrance, sweeping her gaze over the staff before speaking coldly.
"Give me the list of everyone who was on duty yesterday. Every single one."
The staff member handed over the roster, trembling with fear.
Zhuo Shi walked off to one side and closed his eyes to sense the surroundings.
A moment later, he opened his eyes and shook his head.
"The Evil Soul Master's aura ends here."
"Either they have a special way of concealing themselves, or..."
He paused.
"Someone is helping them cover their tracks."
Cai Yuer furrowed her brows.
Meanwhile, on the top floor of the Spirit Transmitter Tower Headquarters.
Qian Gu Dongfeng stood before a Floor-to-Ceiling Window, gazing in the direction of Shrek City with a dark expression.
The explosion in Shrek City yesterday had naturally caught his attention as well.
He had received the news immediately.
The person he had arranged to place at the checkpoint had vanished without a trace.
No one knew whether he was alive or dead.
A trace of unease stirred in his heart.
He immediately ordered his people to quickly dispose of every clue that might expose them and to cover up all traces, ensuring that Shrek Academy would not discover the truth.
"Damn it!"
"What on earth are those Evil Soul Masters doing?!"
Qian Gu Dongfeng's expression darkened further.
He needed to distance the Qian Gu Family and the Spirit Pagoda from this as soon as possible.
Otherwise, if the people in Shrek Academy's Sea God Pavilion set their sights on him, he would be in for a miserable time.
Those old monsters...
Every one of them was a Limit Douluo.
Especially Yun Ming. The Sky Pillar Douluo and Continent's Number One Person was no empty title.
Qian Gu Dongfeng took a deep breath, turned, and walked back to his desk to begin planning their next move.
Meanwhile...
On a street in Shrek Outer City.
Wang Zhi frowned at the group of people blocking his way.
"What is it?"
At the front stood a young man in his early twenties, his face bearing an innate arrogance.
He looked Wang Zhi up and down, his gaze full of disdain.
"You're Wang Zhi, right?"
His tone was flippant.
"You've got some nerve!"
Wang Zhi paused.
Judging by the man's age and clothes, he seemed to be a Shrek Inner Court Student.
A shadow of cold light flickered in his eyes.
But he wasn't alarmed.
He was certain he hadn't been exposed over what had happened yesterday.
So there had to be a reason this group had suddenly come after him.
He said calmly,
"If you have no business with me, please step aside."
"I have to go to the Spirit Pagoda for today's Top 64 match."
"Your match?" The Leader Youth sneered. "I don't think you need to go compete."
A murderous glint flashed in his eyes.
"If it weren't for you, Junior Ye Xinglan wouldn't have been punished by the academy."
"You have to pay for that!"
Wang Zhi was speechless.
Why was this about Ye Xinglan again?
It was just a match, wasn't it?
Why did it feel like he'd stirred up a hornet's nest at Shrek Academy, with one person after another coming to defend her?
They really were overprotective.
Anyone who didn't know better might think he'd blown up Shrek itself.
"Winning and losing are both normal in a competition."
Wang Zhi's tone was calm.
"What?"
"Can't people from Shrek accept defeat?"
"I'm in a hurry to compete!"
"I don't have time to play house with you."
The Leader Youth's face immediately darkened.
"You've got a sharp tongue, kid."
A sly smile appeared on his face as he stepped forward.
"Kid, as a member of the Shrek Inspection Team, I believe you're connected to last night's explosion in the city."
"Surrender quietly!"
Before his words had even faded, he strode forward and reached out to seize Wang Zhi.
Wang Zhi complained inwardly.
So the process was completely wrong...
But the conclusion was right?
Of course, this made him dislike Shrek Academy even more.
If he hadn't been involved in last night's explosion and were just an ordinary person...
He'd have no way to clear his name with this black pot dumped on his head.
Besides, he'd unintentionally helped Shrek by letting them know there were Evil Soul Masters in Shrek City.
He'd indirectly saved many people from death.
He'd done Shrek Academy a favor!
They didn't need to act like he was a criminal!
Wang Zhi's thoughts stirred.
In an instant, several dark figures burst out of the surrounding shadows.
Ghost Shadow Ninjas!
They moved as swiftly as specters, instantly rushing in front of Wang Zhi to engage the young man.
The young man snorted and threw out both fists.
As a Shrek Inner Court Student, he was naturally no weakling. His fists howled through the air, heavy and powerful.
But after a few exchanges, he realized that he couldn't beat these summoned creatures with his bare hands.
The Ghost Shadow Ninjas moved strangely, attacked from unpredictable angles, and worked in perfect coordination. For a time, he couldn't gain the slightest advantage.
The young man's expression changed, and he immediately released his Martial Soul.
A phantom appeared behind him: a pitch-black Leopard-shaped Soul Beast.
At the same time, two yellow, two purple, and two black Soul Rings rose from beneath his feet.
A Six Rings Soul Emperor!
Yet even more Ghost Shadow Ninjas appeared from the shadows.
Five, ten, fifteen...
They surged in from all directions and surrounded the young man.
Even when he gave it everything he had, he still couldn't get past the ninjas to seize Wang Zhi.
In the end, he flew into a rage.
"Futile resistance!"
"I strongly suspect that you're working with the Evil Soul Masters!"
He shouted sternly.
"Everyone, get him!"
"Take him down!"
At his words, the dozen or so people around him released their Martial Souls.
In an instant, lights of every color flashed and Soul Rings rose into the air.
Even the weakest among them was a Four-Ring Soul Ancestor, and several were Five Ring Soul Kings.
They rushed forward as one, charging at Wang Zhi.
Wang Zhi sneered.
"Interesting."
"You Shrek people are trying to arrest me on a baseless charge, and you won't even let me fight back?"
His voice was icy.
"What an impressive display of authority!"
"What do you think the Federation's laws are for?!"
Before you continue